KELSO JACKS

from bomplist.xnet2.com

There are plenty of Krishna-core bands out there. Hell, even Spin did an article on the phenom some two years ago (i used to work for Shelter). Shelter is probably the highest profiled band in this hardcore sub-genre. Ray Cappo and Porcell (the founding members of Straight Edge hardcore legends, Youth of Today...Cappo also co-founded Revelation Records) are sincere practitioners of Krishna and use their music to promote not only Krishna Consciousness, but also just plain good clean living (no drinks, no drugs, no smokes, vegetarianism, no sex). 108 (actually named after a verse number in the Bhagavat Gita) is no longer a band, but they were pretty damn intense when they were around....yes, Krishnas also.

Other Krishnacore outfits include: Better Than A Thousand, Baby Gopal and Both Worlds (featuring John Joseph aka "Bloodclot" of the Cro-Mags -- yup he's a Krishna now). Also, look to some of the groups on the EVR roster (Equal Vision Records...another Cappo founded label) for more bands in this vein.

The bands play straight up hardcore (though Shelter has taken a turn for the pop) and when they play live there is usually a clique of apricot robed Krishnas ready with pamphlets and hummus and peas in pitas to feed you. You can also hear chanting in sanskrit and festive dancing to finger-cymbals between sets, if enough of the Krishnas show up. I'm no Krishna and never will be, but I definitely am past calling it a kooky cult. I do have a big soft spot for the Krishna-core genre...having had a time in my past when I was all about Straight-edge...straight down to the X's on my hands. Hari bol--

kelso, who is older now and no longer straight edge, who has also read the Bhagavat Gita in its entirety and attended the Krishna rally that takes place in June in NYC's Washington Sq. Park with members of Shelter, and who arranged for Josh to be in that Shelter video...the one that SHE starred in : > D.